Tsai Chi-huang can rest easy after home win

Home hope Tsai Chi-huang battled a restless night  and the elements to win the Mercuries Taiwan Masters for the second time in his career, despite a final round of four-over-par 76.

Tsai started yesterday with a six-shot lead after 65 in the third round at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club and it proved enough to beat closest rival Antonio Lascuna, of the Philippines, by four shots.

Lascuna's 73 saw him miss the chance to take advantage, with Tsai's fellow Taiwanese, Chan Yih-shin, in a tie for  third with David Lipsky, of the United States. Lipsky shot a 67, the best score of the day in the US$600,000 Asian Tour event.

Tsai, who registered a winning total of four-under-par 284, said  he barely slept the night before, so nervous was he about finishing off the job.

With only three hours of  rest, he struggled early in the round. He was four over after 15 holes but gained some momentum when he sank a  30-foot birdie putt on 16.

"Honestly I couldn't sleep last night. I was wondering if I could make it to the end. I felt like I was still sleeping when I was on the first tee box," said Tsai, who won US$120,000.

"It was only when I finished 18 holes that I knew my dream had come true," he said.

"The wind was blowing all over the place and I wasn't the only one who was struggling. I guess I'm quite lucky to have won this," added the 44-year-old Tsai, who won the same tournament  in 2002.

Lascuna stayed in touch with the leader for most of the round before three-putting on the last.